Vehicle-signal



.L T. KOECKI.

VEHICLE SIGNAL. Y APPucATloN ULEB oc. i3. 19:6.

Patented Oct. 26, 19ML 2 SHEETSY'SHEET I.

1.1. Komm. VEHICLE SIGNAL. APPLICATLON FRED 06T. I3. 15H6 Patented, Oct. 26, 1920.

2 SHETS-SHEET 2.

fain/fia@ e? if JAMES rnnonoanxornckx, orornoaeo, ILLINoIs.

VEHICLE-SIGNAL.

Speclilcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

Application filed October 13, 191B. Serial No. 126,508.

' tion.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle signaling devices designed for use especially uion automobiles to serve the double functlon of a rear or tail light, and means for signaling vehicles behind as to contemplated movements of the vehicle upon which the device is arranged.

The object of my invention is the production of a device of the character mentioned which will be of durable and economical construction and eflicient in use.

thor objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. and in which,

Figure l is.a top plan view of the chassis ol' a convention-.1l automobile equipped with a signaling device embodying the invention,

Fig. is a partially sectional top plan rien' ol' lhe device detached` and Figs. il and 4 are sections taken on sul stnntially lines mF-oa and y--fr/ respectively oi' Fig The preferred form of construction, as illustratori in the drawings, is designed for use especially in connection with an automobile illustrated at 1 in Fig. 1. when in use, ris arranged at the rearward end nl the vehicle, as shown, upon a suitable bracket 2 provided for the purpose. The device comprises a body 3 preferably of sheet metal which is substantially rectangular in form at' its rearward end, the forward end thereof tapering, as seen, and being provided with a suitable socket 4 for engagement with the supporting bracket 2, a screw 5 being shown for locking the device to said bracket.

The rearward` end of the housing 3 is open, the same being provided with a door G in which are formed a centra-l circular opening 7 and side circular openings 8.

The device,I

Mounted in the openin 7 and 8 are lenses 9 and 10 respectively, t e lens 9 being preferably colored red, whereas the lenses' 10 are preferabl colored green. The lenses l) and 10 are ocked in position in the open- 1ngs 7 and of door 6, through engagement therewith of circular flanges 11 which are formed upon a plate 12 secured to the rearward side of the door.

Sald door 6 is hinged] connected at its uppei` edge, as at 13, wit the top wall of housing 3 so as to permit of said door swinging rearwardly and upwardly. The lower or free edge of the door is provided with a suitable locking device 13 which is adapted to hold the door in closed or operative position, when the device is in use.

Provided in the end or side walls of the housing 3 are circular openings 14 in which are arranged lenses 15 also preferably colored green. Said lenses 15 are locked in position in the openings 14 by'ltneans of annular flanges 16 which aresecured to the inner sides of the end or sidewalls of the housing, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 sind 3. Provided at the rearward end of the housmg 3 at the under side thereof, is a downwardly offset portion 17 in which is formed a rearwardly and downwardly facing Window or elongated slot 18. The window 18 is covered by a colorless glass 19, which is suitably fastened in position.

Mounted in the housing 3, at the rearward end thereof, is an electric light 20 which when the device is in use, will be supplied with current from any suitable source. Mounted at the inner side of the door 6, be hind each of the lenses 10, is a holder 'or shield 21 preferably substantially rectang laruin form and closed at all sides exce t that /adjacent the lens. Each of the hol ers 21 is formed with laterally projecting flanges 22 which are adapted for slidable interlocking with flanges 23 which are provided upon the inner side of said door. The arrangement is such that the holders 21 will be held securely in position upon the inner side of the door, the same being adapted for removal or detachment onlyl upon swinging of the door outwardly to orlzontal or upwardly extending position. When this 1s done, the holders may be slid relativel to the door so as to effect disengagement o Athe flanges 22 from the anges 28. When the door is in lowered or o erativ position, it is of course pparent't at the holders will be locked aga nst detachment.

Mounted in each of the holders 21 isan electric light 24. Each of the lights A24: is provided with an inde endent circuit, the circuit wires 25 of eac-i of said li hts extending forwardly along the vehic e to accommodate a pilot light 26 which is arranged in series with each of saidlights 24. The pilot lights 26 are arranged upon the dash-board of the vehicle or other suitable location where the same,rnay be readily observed by the driver of the vehicle, said pilot lights thus serving as aineans of advising the driver whether 01"not the lights 24 are in operation,rsince the lights 26 will operate simultaneously with the lights 24 `when the circuits of the latter are closed. Suitable push buttons or switches will be interposed in the circuit Wires 25 which will be locate'd for convenient operation by the driver to open sind close said circuits.

With the construction set forth, it will be seen that when the device is in use, the light 2O will serve to illuminate the lens 9 which will` serve as :i tail light for the vehicle, and also the'lenses 15 which `will serve as side lights. The lights 24, which are arranged in independent manually controlled circuits, :Ilford means for signaling to vehicles behind of contemplated turning by the driver of the vehicle upon which the device is used, the arrangement being such, as will be seen, that by closing the circuit through the right hand light, it will serve to advise those behind of the intention of the driver to turn to the right, and closing of the circuit through the left',Y hand light 24, will serve to advise those behind Vthat the driver intends to turn to the left. The lenses 10 will be unlighted except during signaling, as just described, the holders or shields 21 serving topreyent the light from lamp 20 illuminatingsa-id lenses.

`he rearwardl and downwardly opening window 18 affols means of illumination for a license number which may be supported below the device, as will be readily under stood.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my' invention into eifect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A signaling device comprising a' housing; a swinging door at the rear side o'f said housing; a plurality of lenses in said door; dang-es arranged on said door and spaced therefrom along one side, ,said flanges being arranged U-shaped, the base of said U being adjacent the lower edge of said door; means for illuminating said lenses, said means bein r con tained4 in a holder open at one side,

projecting laterally from said side of said Aliti holder and adapted to interlock with the spaced side portions of said first. mentioned flanges to secure said holder in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

JAMES `HEODORE KOTECKI Witnessesz JN0. A. FEncUsoN,

HELEN F. Linus. 

